‘3 dead, 17 injured’ in mock explosion at Surigao port

By Eugenio “Jun” Lira, Jr.SURIGAO CITY - Panic and
cries for help broke loose as injured bodies littered inside the passenger
terminal building (PTB) in this seaport seconds after an explosive device
exploded on Wednesday morning, July 27, port authorities said.

Port
Manager Mildred Padilla said the ‘terrifying scene’ accounted for 3 casualties,
17 injured persons and dozens of passengers and port users evacuated as a
result of the mock explosion minutes after an abandoned bag was ‘found’ by a
security guard inside the PTB and was reported to the Port Police Division.

“This
bomb drill we have today is a scenario created with the help of different
government offices to test the readiness and emergency response of these
agencies vis-à-vis any possible terroristic attacks on our port which is
considered one of the vital government installations that needs protection.
This is the result of the recommendation of PP/Supt Froilan Caturla who labored
to make this exercise possible,” Padilla said.

She
singled out the PNP Region 13 Maritime Group, led by P/Supt Melvin Laguros,
that conducted the Bomb Threat and Explosion Drill Seminar which preceded an
hour before the “bombing” of the PTB.

Padilla
said it started at around 10:30 a.m. when SG Freddie Romero, a roving guard,
noticed an abandoned bag near the ticketing booth but when he checked about the
ownership of the bag the latter failed to locate its owner as passengers or
persons near the location deny ownership of the same and failed to notice who
brought the said bag in the area.

“The
guard then informed PP/Froilan Caturla about the unattended bag and they
immediately secured the area together with the help of PP/Insp Dixon Gonzales,
security commander Roger Montilla, some guards and porters. Caturla then called
the assistance of the K9 unit of the Philippine Coast Guard so the bag could be
checked by a K9 dog," the port manager disclosed.

PP/Supt
Froilan Caturla, port police commander, said he then ordered the immediate
evacuation of passengers and other persons from the vicinity when the K9 dog
sat beside the abandoned bag after sniffing it for several seconds.

“Normally,
when a K9 dog sniffs something and sits beside the object – it means that bag
contains explosives. So, I immediately ordered the evacuation of people from
the vicinity of the PTB and ticketing booth to the designated evacuation area
just beside the PPA Administration Bldg. and then I called for assistance from
the CDRRMC, PNP, BFP, ERS, City TMO and PCBSI,” Caturla revealed.

He said
while they were busy in the evacuation, the abandoned bag suddenly exploded and
a score of people were hitresulting to 3 casualties and 17 injured that were
immediately attended to with the timely arrival of the City Rescue Team headed
by Mario Gesta and BFP Response Unit led by SFO4 Albert Lerio.

Caturla
said after the blast, a composite of the PCG K9 unit, Philippine Army and PNP
Maritime EOD personnel conducted an immediate clearing operation at the PTB
Shed and adjacent areas where they found another unattended bag which was transferred
and later detonated by the team at a safe distance in the middle of the highway
in front of the PTB.

After the
clearing activity, the composite team recommended the return of the ‘evacuees’
to the PTB which then resumed normal operation amid positive responses from the
public, Caturla said.

Atty.
Roldan Calejesan, PPA-Surigao Legal Officer and designated information officer,
said the port management had also commended other government officials and
media personalities who helped in the successful staging and wide dissemination
of the bomb drill.

Surigao Today

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